About

UPDATE: 10-9-2012

New Prices! I have found a new supplier for some of the parts / materials needed to complete an ILLUMIRINGER and this project. Hence, I have lowered the price of a few of the reward options to reflect these findings.

Additionally, I have lowered the price on a complete ILLUMIRINGER pedal to only $125 !

Now you can get involved in this project and be on your way to building one of the first ILLUMIRINGER's out there for only $25 !

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: About 6 months ago I was building a circuit bent musical greeting card synth, and I wanted to add a cool effect to the circuit. After messing around with a few IC chips I built a ring modulator circuit I felt would really add an exciting dynamic to the piece. After finishing the piece I started thinking about how cool it would be if the effect could be controlled by light and motion instead of just a knob. I also thought it would be a great piece to enable a soloist to add even more showmanship to an already exciting performance. So, I set out on a mission to create OUR WORLD'S (I can not speak for the gear presently being used in our solar system and beyond... yet!) very first motion controlled ring modulator. This was not an easy task to say the least.

Starting with the ring modular circuit on a breadboard I began a long, strange and exciting journey into the the next level of stomp boxes. The next few months were spent experimenting with different designs and methods for achieving the desired level of motion control, each design getting closer and closer to my original vision. Well, here I am months later... and from mind to matter...

MY DILEMMA: I've hit a major brick wall in this project- please let explain why. As you can see... the prototype is finished, tested, working and super cool. I feel that it is time to get the ILLUMIRINGER out of my lab and into people's homes, but I just simply do not have the resources to make it possible.

The problem is mostly with the production of the printed circuit boards and building materials. There are a lot of little parts needed to make one of these things, and building them quickly without a good circuit board to work from is frustrating and time consuming to say the least.

HOW YOUR SUPPORT HELPS: With your support and if I can hit my Kickstarter goal I would then be able to purchase the equipment / materials needed to transfer my circuit designs to an easy to assemble PCB (drill press, copper, etchant, laser printer) as well as the parts needed to assemble it. I would also be able to order the parts and materials (wire, knobs, larger LEDs, extra large light sensors, potentiometers, buttons, jacks etc.) in bulk. This would both reduce the cost of the pedal (and DIY Kits) as well as speed up order fulfillment by at least 3X!

Most of us have been in this situation: you are excited to play with a new piece of gear or (maybe even worse) build a cool new kit and it takes FOREVER for it to arrive. There is almost nothing worse to suck the excitement out of a purchase. This is an experience I never want a customer of mine to endure. With your help today, issues such as these would never be a problem.

A FINAL THOUGHT: I would like to take this moment to thank you. Not only for taking time to look at my new invention and hear my story, but for being on an amazing site like KickStarter in the first place. This website truly is the embodiment of what makes the internet an amazing place to be, and you are the people who make it all happen. It's times like this I truly do feel blessed to be living on this planet, here, right now! Thank you.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $55 or more
About $55

FULL ILLUMIRINGER KIT (w/ out Greeting Card Kit)

This reward includes the full ILLUMIRINGER kit including the above PCB, project box, as well as all other parts / build instructions needed to complete it. *Please add an extra $15 for International shipping

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $85 or more
About $85

FULL ILLUMIRINGER KIT: This reward includes the full ILLUMIRINGER kit including the above PCB, project box, as well as all other parts / build instructions needed to complete it. You will also receive ALL other above stated rewards including the Circuit Bent Greeting Card kit.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $125 or more
About $125

FULLY ASSEMBLED ILLUMIRINGER PEDAL: This reward includes a complete, hand assembled / tested Dr. Blankenstein ILLUMIRINGER pedal, as well as all the above stated rewards! (w/ the exception of the ILLUMIRINGER kit)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $200 or more
About $200

CUSTOM BUILT ILLUMIRINGER PEDAL: This reward is just like the above (reward #6) BUT you get to pick the design of the case. Meaning you can choose color, theme, type of knobs as well as special input / output requests.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $250 or more
About $250

CUSTOM BUILT ILLUMIRINGER PEDAL / CIRCUIT BENT MUSICAL GREETING CARD SYNTH: In this reward you will receive ALL the above rewards as well as a fully assembled custom made Dr. Blankenstein noise synth. You can pick from different available songs, theme, color, output type, button and knobs requests. This is an amazing reward for ANY gear collector out there!